Former Gossip Girl and Buffy The Vampire Slayer actress Michelle Trachtenberg died at 39 on Wednesday. In response to the sudden death, her Harriet the Spy co-star Rosie O'Donnell has spoken up in mourning.
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This young American actress was found unresponsive in her New York City apartment early Wednesday morning. People reported that 62-year-old O'Donnell made a statement concerning her "heartbreaking" death.
Michelle Trachtenberg's Death Mourned By Co-Star Rosie O'Donnell
"I loved her very much," she said. "She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped." The two actors starred alongside each other in 1996's Harriet the Spy when Trachtenberg was just 10 years old. It was her first big acting gig that pushed her to stardom.
Fans have also noticed Trachtenberg struggling for the past few months. The young actress had recently posted troubling Instagram images where she appeared frail. This sparked fans to express their concerns for her health.
Trachtenberg responded to the worried fans by saying she was "happy and healthy." Despite this, the police do not regard her death as suspicious. Authorities arrived at her luxury apartment after responding to an 8 AM 911 call at 1 Columbus Place.
"Upon arrival, officers observed a 39-year-old female unconscious and unresponsive," said the cops. "EMS responded to the location and pronounced the victim deceased. Criminality is not suspected."
Fans, friends, and family of the actress are now in mourning of the shocking death as the investigation continues. Trachtenberg pursued big roles as she grew older, like playing Dawn Summers in the supernatural drama Buffy. She played Sarah Michelle Gellar's sister who has yet to speak up.
In the mid-2000s, she starred in a few smaller films but most notably acted in Gossip Girl, a teen drama series. Trachtenberg played Georgina Sparks in this CW show from 2007 to 2012. She also returned as her character in the standalone sequel that aired between 2021 and 2023.
The actress's most recent acting credit is 2024's Spyral, a biography and documentary. It showcased intimate and raw footage of a family battling mental illness.
Trachtenberg's final social media post was sharing a throwback image on Instagram of herself at a press event. The caption read, "I wanted to look like naughty #tinkerbell."
